Rapidum


Rapidum was a Roman settlement and fort located in Mauretania Caesariensis, nearly 100 km south of Icosium.

History

The Romans built a fort in what is now Sour Djouab during the first century of their rule in Mauretania between Castellum Tingitanum and Auzia , in order to expand their control of the interior of the region. Soon under Hadrian near the fort grew up a civilian settlement called "Rapidum", on the Roman road called the Nova Praetentura, which connected Numidia with Mauretania Tingitana and passed through Rapidum.
The original castrum of Rapidum remained until 201 AD, while the town survived until emperor Aurelian when it was destroyed by Berber nomads. The later emperor Diocletian rebuilt it during the late 3rd century with huge buildings which lasted until the Arab invasions.
The initial garrison of Rapidum fort was – according to historian M. Ruiu – the Cohors II Sardorum and protected the new limes of the Roman Empire moved south from the Mediterranean shores to a military road called Nova Praetentura. This road went from Rapidum near Numidia to Altava and to Numerus Syrorum at the border of Mauretania Tingitana.
Rapidum was named "municipium" and had an extension of 15 hectares under Marcus Aurelius.
The city was later destroyed by Berber rebellions, but Diocletian restored the city that had even huge Roman thermae. Pieces of colossal statues of Jupiter and Minerva suggest the existence of a "Capitol". There also undoubtedly was a temple to Ceres.
The fort was abandoned around 325 AD, while the city remained some centuries more.
Rapidum was conquered by the Vandals and later reduced to a small village, probably Christian - was occupied by the Roman–Berber Kingdom of Altava in the 6th century. It disappeared with the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb in the 7th century. Today only some ruins remain, excavated in the 1920s by the French colonists.

Bishopric

Rapidum was center of an ancient bishopric and remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church in the province of Mauretania Caesariensis.
Bishops